Gas-making apparatus.



A. M. STANLEY. GAS MAKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-31' I910. 1,177,904.

Qwi'knc me o Patented Apr. 4,1916.

SHEETS-SHEET I-.

A. M. STANLEY. GAS MAKING APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 v APPLICATION FILED AUG 31.1910 1,177,94,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Jimmie n. STANLEY, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, .assxcmon To mnocannon CONVERTER comramz, or new YORK, N. Y., A conrona'rron or DELAWARE.

GAS-MAK ING APPARATUS.

Patented A r. 4, 1916..

Application filed August 31, 1910. Serial No. 579,851. 2

To all whom it may concern:

elevation of the improved converter and, in

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. STANLEY,

citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Lynn, county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmpr-ovements in Gas- Making Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to the gasification of hydrocarbon oils, particularly crude oils, scalpedoils distillate, fueloil, and. the like, and to apparatus therefor, which apparatus is and described in the patent of E. B. Benham No. 1,000,768, dated August 15, 1911.

My invention comprises automatic means for regulating the action of the gas making apparatus, (which apparatus is commonly termed aconverter, and will be so termed herein an improved structure of converter; and various other features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to regulate automatically the temperature of the converter, to prevent the temperature in the converter from rising. too high, and. to improve, simplify and cheapen the construction of the converter.

I will now roceed to describe my invention with reierence to the accompanying drawings. and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows an end connection therewith, piping such as may be used in connection with the converter, when the latter is attached to a gas engine; Fig. 2. shows a side view of the converter; Fig. 3

is a central longitudinal section of the converter; Fig. 4 is a transverse section-thereof on the line l3-H of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a elevation of one of. the end plates 10 of the apparatus.

Considering first the structure of the converter, and referring first to Figs. 3, 4 and 1 designates a cylindrical casing constituting the main shell of the converter and provided with an inlet connection 2 for a mixture of air and oil, which mixture is converted into gas within the converter, as hereinafter described.

3 designates a cylinder of porous refractory material of an earthy nature, such for example as earthenware, crucible material,

sections, longitudinally, as shown.

of the general "type illustrated.

etc.,' located Within cylinder 1 and spaced away from the wallsthereof by means of lugs 4, formed at intervals upon the surface I of cylinder 3. a

5 designates another cylinder of porous refractory'material, usually the same material as that of which cylinder 3 is formed, sa d cylinder 5 being located within cylinder 3, and, customarily, being tormed in two 6 6 designate metal tubes projecting from the ends of the converter inward and which support the cylinder 5. Within these tubes 6 are baffles consisting of disks 7 alternated with rings 8, the disks supported by r0ds9.

The ends'of cylinder 1 are closed by end plates 10, secured to tubes 6, and sosupportmg them, said plates 10 being preferably provided with somewhat extended fingers 11, fitting within the-main shell 6, whereby a firm, support is rovided for these end plates and .thetu s 6 carried thereby. Outer end plates 12 are provided and, near the ends of the converter, discharge connections 13 are provided. Suitable openings 14 are provided in tube 5 near the center thereof, whereby the gas may pass into the intenor of tubes 6.

Thecylinder 1 is surrounded by another cylinder, 15, inclosing, around cylinder 1, a, jacket space 16, through which heating gases, such as the exhaust gases of a gas engine, may, be circulated; an inlet connection 17 and discharge connection 18 being provided. Another cylinder, 19, surrounds jacket cylinder 15,'the jacket space 20 inclosed between cyllnders 19 and 15 constituting an air heating space;. suitable admission openings 21 to this space being provided, and a'suitable discharge connection 22 being also provided. Finally, the converter is surrounded with a suitable lagging 23. Cylinder 15 is welded at its ends, into rings 10 surrounding the ends of cylinder 1, and welded to or otherwise secured to cylinder 1; and c linder "19 fits, at its ends, over shoulders ormed on rings 10, and is thereby supported and the passages of the converter, combustion however being incomplete. It has been found'in apparatus of the type of the Benham patent No. 1,000,768 referred to, that the form and construction of the parts, the extent of area of porous material, the free dom of the passages and the construction of such passages in such manner that the entering stream of oil and air is in the first place caused to impinge upon heated porous material of low heat conductivity, are all. im portant features to be observed in the design and construction of such apparatus. In the apparatus herein shown, the stream of oil and air entering at 2 impinges in the first instance upon the cylinder 3, which is highly heated by the partial combustion going on in the passage between said cylinder 3 and cylinder 5, and by the circulation of the hot products of combustion through such passage. It is believed that the oil enters the pores of the porous material of which cylinder 3 is formed, where it so impinges upon said cylinder, and then escapes through the pores of such cylinder 3 as a gas or vapor. Whatever be the nature of the action Which takes place, an intimate mixture of air 7 and hydrocarbon vapor or gas is formed which, during or before partial combustion, passes around the ends of cylinder 3 into the space between cylinders 3 and 5, and thence through the openings 14; into tubes 6 and past the baffies thereof to the discharge connections 13. These battles are customarily of the same material as the cylinders 3 and 5. The partial combustion going on within the converter maintains a high temperature therein such that a fixed gas is formed without deposition of tar, carbon or the like.

In the operation of large converters such as herein shown, it has been found that the converter tends in time to become too hot, because of excessive generation of heat within it; and it has been found that when such is the case, restriction in supply of exhaust gases or like heating gases to the heating jacket 16, obviates this trouble, so much so that by regulation of the supply of gases to jacket 16, the temperature of the converter may be maintained practically constant after it is once in operation. To this end I provide a thermostat, of which one member is the converter itself, the other member being a rod 24 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured at one end to one of the end rings 10 of the converter, and connected at the other end to a pivoted multiplying lever 25, pivoted to the other end of ring 10 of the con verter, and itself connected by a link 26 to the operating lever 27 of a valve 28, in a bypass connection of the pipe supplying heating gas to the converter.

In Fig. 1, which shows the general arrangement of a converter 1n connection the converter will be less or greater, andsince the expansion of the converter as a whole, relative to that of the rod. 24 (the temperature of which. rod will vary but little during the operation of the apparatus,

while the temperature of the main cylinder of the converter will vary in substantial accordance. with variation of temperature in the gas passages within it) regulates the opening of the valve 28, the structure thus described constitutes an automatic thermostatic device for regulating the temperature of the converter by-openlng or closing valve '28, more or less, according to the temperature obtaining within the converter.

The fuel supply inlet connection 2 of the converter is a nipple welded into openings in cylinders 1 and 15. The end ring 10 at the left hand end of the converter (the ring to which the thermostatic rod 24 is secured) is likewise electrically welded or otherwise suitably secured to the cylinders 1 and 15. The inlet and outlet connections, 17 and 18, for the exhaust gases or other heating gases, are welded into openings in cylinder 15. The gas discharge connections 13 are pipes fitting within bores formed in rings 10*, the ends of these connections 13 extending into passages 33, formed in end pieces '10, which through registering openings 34 near the ends of pipes 6, with the interior of said pipes. Stufling glands 35 are provided to make tight joints. around pipes 13. The end plates 12' of the converter are hinged to the body of the converter, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, and are held in place by suitable screw studs 36. The end construction of the converter is such, as will be seen, that by unscrewing these studs, the end plates 12 may be swung to one side. thereby exposing the end pieces 10; and then, if desired, these end pieces be pulled out (the pipes 13 being first pulled out) each end piece 10, when so pulled out, carrying with it the corresponding half length tube 6 and the half length porous cylinder 5 mounted thereon; also the battles 7 and 8 mounted within such half length tube 6. This construction permits very easy access to the interior of the converter, the porous cylinder 5 being at the same time irotected against injury if drawn out.

To permit inspection of the interior gas passages communicate It is thus possible to inspect the interior of the converter while the parts are still hot, and, if desired, to remove the porous cylinders, or one of them, while still hot.

Preferably, the mixture of oil and heated air is supplied to the converter through an automatic mixing valve which regulates the supply of oil and of air in accordance with the demand on the converter. For this pun-- pose I have shown a valve 38, the particular valve shown being of my invention andforming the subject matterof an appllcation for Letters Patent filed April 8, 1910,-

Sr. No. 554,200. The said valve comprises a valve casing 39 having near'one enda port connected to the air inlet 22 of the con-- verter, and having at its other end a port connected to the supply connection 2 of the converter; and having also an 011 supply connection 40. Within this valve casing there is' a sliding piston valve 41, arranged to move longitudinally of the valve casing,

across the air inlet port thereof; and this valve 41 is connected to a hollow valve stem 42 passing through a suitable guide in the left hand end of the valve casing and provided outside of the valve casing, with a spring 43 tending to keep the valve 41 in a nearly closed position. At its right hand end, and communicating with the oil supply connection 40, the valve has an 011 admission duct 44 the outlet of which is restrictedmore or less by a needle valve 45, the stem of which is within the main valve stem 42 and is operatively connected to said stem 42, at its outer end, by screw nutsJ46, whereby the opening of the needle valve with reference to the main valve, may be regulated. The oil supply duct 44 is provided with a plurality of ports 47 and the stem of the needle valve constitutes a piston arranged to travel, over the orifices of these ports, so as to open one or more. of the said ports, according to the adjustment of said needle valve. Air entering the valve casing through connection 22, enters a chamber right, decreasing the effective opening of the air and oil ports.

' I do not limit myself to the use of thls particular mixing valve in connection with j ing, and a gasifying body of porous com-- bustion-promoting material within said casing and 7 along which the fuel, and gas formed-therefrom, Will'pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, said gasifying body removable through the opening at the end of said casing.

2. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having anopening at one end and a closure for such opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating "the interior of said casing, and a plurality of gasifying bodies of porous combustion-promoting material, within said casing and located one within another, forming, with said casing, a 'zigzag passage through which the fuel, and

gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, said gasify from said inlet to said outlet, said gasifying body removable through the opening at the end of said casing.

4. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having an opening at one end and a closure for such opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating the interior of said 48 and thence passes through ports 49 of y the valve 41 into the interior of said valve, pickingup oil from the orifices of ports 47,

and carrying such oil into the supp1y.con-- nection 2 of' the converter. It will be seen thatj-the action of this valve is such that,

with increase of suction on the converter,

the slidingvalve 41 moves to the left, open lng both the air port and the oil portsmote wldely, and with decrease of suction on. the ing,

casing, and a plurality of silicious gasifying bodies,'within said casing and located one within another, forming, with said casing, a zigzagpassage through which the fuel, and as formed therefrom, will pass in passing rom said inlet tosaid outlet, said gasifying bodies removable through the opening at the end of the casing. I

'5. Gas producing apparatus comprisin a casing having an apening at one end an a closure forsuch opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating the in terior of said casand a gasifying'body of earthy nature converter, the sliding valve 41 moves to the within said casing and along which the fuel,

and gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet tosaid outlet, said gasifying body removable through the opening at the end of said casing.

6. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having an opening at one end and a closure for such opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating the interior of said casing, and a plurality of gasifying bodies of earthy nature within said casing and located one within another, forming, with said casing, a zigzag passage through which the fuel, and gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, said gasifymg bodies removable through the opening at the end of the casing.

7 Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet, means for heating the interior of-said casing, and gasifying means Within said casing and along ,whlch the fuel, and gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, comprising a tube, and a plurality of baflles within said tube the said fuel and air inlet being located 0pposite an intermediate point of the length of said tube, and arranged to direct the en-" tering fuel and air-against the side of such tube, and thereby to cause such entering current to flow alon such tube in both directions from the point of inlet toward the ends of said tube.

8. Gas producing; apparatus comprising a casing having an opening at one end and a closure for such opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating the interior of said casing, and gasifying means within said casing and along which the fuel, and 7 gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, comprising a tube, and a plurality of bafiles within said tube, said gasifying means removable through the opening at the end of said casing the said fuel and air inlet being located opposite an intermediate point of the length of said tube, and arranged to direct the en tering fuel and air against the side of such tube, and thereby to cause such entering current to flow along such tube in both directions from the of said tube.

9. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having an opening at one end and a closure for such opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating the interior of said casing, and gasifying means within said casing comprising tubes one within another, and forming a zigzag passage through which the fuel and gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, the outer tube spaced away from the sides of the said casing, the inner tube supsite an intermediate portion of point of inlet toward the ends ported by said end closure and spaced away from the sides of said outer tube.

10. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having an opening at one end and a closure for' such opening, and having a fuel and air inlet and a gas outlet at other points, means for heating the interior of said casing, and gasifying means within said casing comprising tubes one within another, and forming a'zigzag passage through which the fuel and gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, the outer tube supported on and spaced away from the sides of the said casing, the inner tube supported by'said end closure and spaced away from the sides of said outer tube, said gasifying means removable through the opening at the end of said casing.

11. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its ends, a fuel and air inlet, and having also a gas outlet, and having within it a gasifying body spaced away from, the sides of said casing, said fuel and air inlet located opposaid gasifymg body, and arranged to dirept the entering fuel and airtoward said body, said gasifying body forming with said casingalengthy passage extending in both directions from said inlet, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, said appara tus further comprising means for heating the contents of said casing.

12. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at ends, a fuel and air inlet, and having also a gas outlet, and having within it gasifying means comprising a plurality of tubes one within another spaced away from the sides of said casing and from each-other, and forming with said casing a zigzag passage extending in both directions from said in let, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, said fuel and air inlet arranged to direct the entering fuel and air toward an intermediate point of one of said tubes, said apparatus further comprising means for heating the contents. of said casing.

13. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its ends, a fuel and air inlet, and having also a gas outlet, and having within it, gasifying means comprising a plurality of tubes one within another spaced away from the sides of said casing and from each other, and forming with said casing a zigzag passage extending in both directions from said inlet, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, and baffles within the inner of said tubes, said fuel and air inlet a -po1nt intermediate its arranged to direct the entering fuel and air toward an intermediate point of one of said tubes, said apparatus further comprising means for heating the contents of said casing.

14. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, -at a point intermediate its end, a fuel inlet,and having also a gas outlet, and having within it gasifying means comprising tubes located one within another and spaced away from the sides of said casing and from each other, and forming with said casingja zigzag'passage extending in both directions from said inlet, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passingfrom said inlet to said outlet, the ends of said casing having end pieces providedwith inwardly projecting supporting means supporting the inner of said tubes, said apparatus further comprising means for heating the contents of said casing.

15. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its end, a fuel inlet and having also a gas outlet, and having within it gasifying means comprising tubes located one within another and spaced away from the sides of said casing and from each other, and forming with said casing a zigzag passage extending in both directions from said inlet, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, and end plates fitting into the ends of said casing and supported there- 7 by and provided with inwardly projecting supporting means supporting the inner of said tubes, said apparatus further comprising means for heating the contents of said casing.

16. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its ends, afuel inlet, and having also near its ends gas outlets, a pluralit'y'of tubes within said casing and spaced away from the walls thereof and from each other, and forming with said casing a zigzag passage'extending in both directions. from said inlet, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, the innermost of said tubes having openings near its center connecting its interior space with such zigzag passage and causing said interior space to form a portion of such. zigzag passage, said tubes removable through an opening at one end of said casing, a closure for such open end, plates fitting into the ends of said casing and supported thereby, and provided with inward y projecting means for supporting the innermost of said tubes, and provided with gas outlet ducts connected to the gas outlets of said casing; said apparatus further comprising means for heating the contents of said casing.

17 Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its ends, a fuel inlet, and having also near its ends gas outlets, a plurality of tubes within said casing and spaced away from the walls thereof and from each other, and forming with said casing a zigzag passage extending in both directions from said inlet, through which the fuel, and the gas formed therefrom, will pass in passing from said inlet to said outlet, the innermost of said tubes having openings near its center connecting its interior space with such zigzag passage and causing said interior space to form a portion of such zigzag passage, bafiies within said inner tube, said tubes removable through an opening at one end of said casing, a closure for such open end, plates fitting into the ends of said casing and supported thereby and provided with inwardly projecting means for supporting the innermost of said tubes, and provided with gas outlet ducts connected to the gas outlets of said casing; said apparatus further comprising means for heating the contents of sai casing.

18. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its length, a fuel inlet connection, and having within it a body of porous material opposite such inlet-connection and extending in both directions therefrom, against which the incoming fuel will impinge,- said casing having also an outlet, and a heating jacket surrounding said casing and provided with connections for the passage of a heating gas therethrough.

19. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having, at a point intermediate its length, a fuel inlet connection, and having within it a body of porous material opposite such inlet connection and extending in both directions therefrom, against which the incoming fuel will impinge, said casing having also an outlet, a heating jacket surrounding said casing and provided with connections for the passage of a heating gas therethrough, and an air heating jacket surroundingsa-id first mentioned heating jacket and provided with an air inlet and with an air outlet, connected to the fuel inlet of the apparatus.

20. Gas producing apparatus comprising a casing having at a point intermediate its ends, a fuel inlet, and directions from said fuel inlet, and along which the entering fuel will pass, said ing having also an outlet, a mixing valve connected with said inlet, a heatinf jacket surrounding said casing and provi ed with connections whereby a heating gas may be circulated through said jacket, and an air heating jacket surrounding said first mentioned jacket and provided with an air inhaving within it a body of porous material extending in botha tubular casing,

and. secured to said jacket, and ends of the jacket space,

temperature of said let and with an air outlet, the latter connected to the mixing valve. 7 I

21. Gas producing apparatus comprising a tubular casing, gasifying material Within the same, plates closing the ends of said casing, a jacket surrounding said casing, rings mounted on the ends of said casing and secured to said jacket, and closing the ends of the jacket space, and end plates covering the plates closing the ends of the casing, and the said rings; said casing having a fuel inlet and a gas outlet,

22. Gas producing apparatus comprising gasifying material Within the same,'plates closing the ends of said casing, a jacket surrounding said casing, rings mounted on the ends of said casing closing the a further jacket surrounding said first mentioned jacket and spaced therefrom by said rings, and end.

plates covering the plates closing the end-s of the casing, and the said rings; said casing having a fuel inlet and a gas outlet.

23. The combination of version of liquid fuel into gas by partial combustion, and further comprising. tem perature operated .means, influenced by the apparatus, and means controlled by said temperature operated means for controlling the temperature of said apparatus.

24. The combination apparatus comprising means for the conversion of liquid fuel into gas by partial combustion, and provided with heating means, and further comprising tempera,- ture operated means, influenced by-the temperature of said apparatus, and means con trolled by said temperature operated means of gas producing controlling said heating means. I

25. The combination of gas producing apparatus comprising means for the conversion of liquid fuel into gas by partial combustion, and provided with a heatin chamber having connections for the flow o gas producing apparatus comprising means for the con a heating fiuid therethrough, and further comprising temperature operated means influenced by the temperature of said apparatus, and means operated thereby controlling the flow of heating fluid through said heating chamber.

26. Gas producing apparatus comprising means for the conversion of liquid fuel into gas by partial combustion, and having a heating chamber provided With conneotions for the flow of-heating fluid through 28. The combination of gas producing apparatus comprising a'casing and means within it for the conversion of liquid fuel into gas by heat, said apparatus provided with heating means'and controllin means therefor, an arm pivoted to said casing, and connected to said controlling means, and a jmember less exposed to paratus than is said casing, and therefore havinga different rate of expansion with changes of temperature of the apparatus than has said casing, sai'd'member connected to the pivoted arm and also-to the casing at a point distant from the connection of said pivoted arm to the casing, whereby said controlling means is operated by variation of temperature in the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR M. STANLEY; Witnesses H. M. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANK.

of liquid fuel into gas by the heat of the ap- 

